John Abineri Movies

This lush French melodrama set in post World War I Europe was filmed on location in remote areas of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The film is set in October 1918 and follows the return of Giorgino, a French lieutenant, as he searches a strange and spooky village for the retarded children he looked after before the war. The children have mysteriously disappeared and the only suspect is an enigmatic, but beautiful redhead. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

After a break of more than 15 years, director Francis Ford Coppola and writer Mario Puzo returned to the well for this third and final story of the fictional Corleone crime family. Two decades have passed, and crime kingpin Michael Corleone (Al Pacino), now divorced from his wife Kay (Diane Keaton), has nearly succeeded in keeping his promise that his family would one day be "completely legitimate." A philanthropist devoted to public service, Michael is in the news as the recipient of a special award from the Pope for his good works, a controversial move given his checkered past. Determined to buy redemption, Michael and his lawyer B.J. (George Hamilton) are working on a complicated but legal deal to bail the Vatican out of looming financial troubles that will ultimately reap billions and put Michael on the world stage as a major financial player. However, trouble looms in several forms: The press is hostile to his intentions. Michael is in failing health and suffers a mild diabetic stroke. Stylish mob underling Joey Zaza (Joe Mantegna) is muscling into the Corleone turf. "The Commission" of Mafia families, represented by patriarch Altobello (Eli Wallach) doesn't want to let their cash cow Corleone out of the Mafia, though he has made a generous financial offer in exchange for his release from la cosa nostra. And then there's Vincent Mancini (Andy Garcia), the illegitimate and equally temperamental son of Michael's long-dead brother Sonny. Vincent desperately wants in to the family (both literally and figuratively), and at the urging of his sister Connie (Talia Shire), Michael welcomes the young man and allows him to adopt the Corleone name. However, a flirtatious attraction between Vincent and his cousin, Michael's naïve daughter Mary (Sofia Coppola) develops, and threatens to develop into a full-fledged romance and undo the godfather's future plans. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

In the conclusion of the four-part story "The Power of Kroll," the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) are forced to overcome enormous obstacles in their efforts to retrieve the fifth segment of the Key to Time on the swamp moon of Delta Magna. But the cream of the jest occurs at the climax, when the Doctor discovers that the Great God Kroll, whom the local Swampies worship blindly, is actually a huge squid -- and Kroll is, in fact, the elusive Fifth Segment. Written by Robert Holmes, "The Power of Kroll, Episode 4" originally aired on January 13, 1979. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Mary Tamm) land on the third moon of Delta Magna, in search of the fifth segment of the Key to Time. The moon is little more than an overgrown swamp, populated by a hostile tribe who worship a god called Kroll -- and that's only the beginning of the Doctor's headaches in this four-part adventure. A follow-up to the previous Doctor Who continuity "The Androids of Tara," "The Power of Kroll, Episode 1" was written by Robert Holmes and was originally telecast on December 23, 1978. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the second episode of the four-part story "Death to the Daleks," an energy drain on the planet Exxilon has rendered the TARDIS useless. During his enforced stay on the planet, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) ends up seeking out an antidote for a plague which has spread throughout the galaxy. Things take a deadly turn when the instigators of the plague, the mutant Daleks, likewise show up on Exxilon. Written by Terry Nation, "Death to the Daleks, Episode 2" first aired on March 2, 1974. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

After George Lazenby portrayed James Bond in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Sean Connery returned to the tux, gimmicks, and catchphrases of Secret Agent 007 in his penultimate Bond outing, Diamonds Are Forever. Fragments of Ian Fleming's original 1954 novel remain, including the characters of the alluring Tiffany Case (Jill St. John) and fey hitmen Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr. Kidd (Putter Smith). The remainder of Richard Maibaum and Tom Mankiewicz's script diverges dramatically from the novel, involving Bond in a scheme by the insidious Ernst Blofeld (Charles Gray) to force the world powers to disarm so that he can take over the globe. Folksinger Jimmy Dean shows up briefly as a Howard Hughes-like reclusive billionaire, while Lana Wood (Natalie's sister) participates in one of the film's edgiest cliffhangers. Agreeing to make Diamonds Are Forever only because of the money offered him, Sean Connery parted company with the role for 12 years after this film; he returned to the role once more in 1983, for Irvin Kershner's underrated Thunderball remake Never Say Never Again. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) assists U.N.I.T. in its efforts to find out why the Mars Probe 7 project has suddenly cut of all radio contact with earth. The mystery deepens when one of the astronauts successfully returns from Mars, only to begin behaving like a lunatic. Written by Don Houghton and debuting March 21, 1970, the seven-episode "The Ambassadors of Death" was the second Doctor Who adventure to be lensed in color. Unfortunately, only black-and-white prints exist for episodes two through seven. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the third episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the returning astronauts from the Mars Probe 7 project have apparently been kidnapped. In the course of U.N.I.T.'s investigation, Liz Shaw (Caroline John) notices that the amount of radiation in the recovery capsule would have been fatal to an ordinary human being. But before she can act upon this information, Liz is kidnapped herself. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 3" originally aired on April 4, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

In the fifth episode of the seven-part story "The Ambassadors of Death," the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7 deepens. It is now clear that the astronauts involved in the probe have been replaced by alien duplicates. Warned that the earth will be destroyed if the duplicates -- referred to as "ambassadors" by their superior -- are not returned to their own planet, the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) concludes that someone on earth is trying to cause an interplanetary war for his own evil purposes. Written by Don Houghton, "The Ambassadors of Death, Episode 5" originally aired on April 18, 1970. Filmed in color, this episode presently exists in black-and-white only. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Major James Wilson (Lloyd Bridges) must lead his troops across the English channel in the D-day invasion of Normandy. He trains his regulars for the invasion knowing that many, if not all, may never survive the assault. Wilson is plagued by memories of previous missions that turned out to be suicidal. Captain Franklin (Andrew Keir) is the British officer who opposed the plan and has a personal vendetta against Wilson. The two are thrown together on the same mission when Franklin is slated to command the mine sweepers that transport Wilson's troops to their destination. They face overwhelming odds and a barrage of cannon fire from the Nazi stronghold on the Normandy coast. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

When the TARDIS lands in the North Sea, the vessel's arrival coincides with the mysterious disappearance of several oil-refinery drilling crews. The authorities natural assume that the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) and his companions are responsible for endangering the world's oil supply. But the Doctor has heard strange sounds emanating from one of the gaspipe lines -- strange, inhuman sounds. Written by Victor Pemberton, the first episode of the Doctor Who adventure "Fury of the Deep" originally aired on March 16, 1968. None of the adventure's six episodes are presently available for viewing, though a fragment exists from Episode 1, showing the Doctor's friend Victoria (Deborah Watling) in her usual state of peril. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide